Dini on BCANY: "You kind of go into a situation like this with a chip on your shoulder"

I spoke with Somers head coach Kristi Dini on Wednesday after posting the Hudson Valley roster for the BCANY Summer Hoops Festival this weekend. Dini said that players were picked on a tryout basis and that Albertus Magnus coach Pat Buckley helped make the selections. Here's my story, which is in Friday's paper:

"You kind of go into a situation like this with a chip on your shoulder, but also a little extra motivation," said Dini, who took over for Ossining head coach Dan Ricci last season. "We went up there not sure what to expect. The girls played hard and tough and earned a spot in the championship."

The tournament, which runs Aug. 1-3, will be held at Johnson City High School. Hudson Valley begins play on Friday against Central at 5:30 p.m.

Hudson Valley, which has appeared in the championship game in each of the tournament's previous three years, boasts a 10-player roster that includes some of the top guards in Section 1. The team's lack of height could be a weak spot, but Dini expects the team's speed and ability to score to help pick up some of the slack.

"We're definitely aware we're a guard-oriented team," said Dini, who coaches Somers during the varsity season. "The guards are high-scoring … defensively, that causes a lot of problems for teams and for us; it depends on the matchups."

Dini's regular-season forward Kayleah McGuire is one of the team's only true forwards, along with Albertus Magnus' Chontel Fils. Hudson Valley, which has eight seniors, including McGuire and Fils (both pictured below, 21 and 31, respectively), could balance the floor with guards like Lourdes senior Emily Ferreri and North Rockland senior Ciera Rivera, whose size could fit in a small forward position, if needed.

"We're prepared to do different things," Dini said. "If we box out and outrebound teams, we'll be in good shape. In all-star games like these, which is essentially what they are, it really comes down who comes and plays the hardest."

Five players on this year's roster hail from Rockland County, including three from North Rockland, which has not graduated a player in two years. In addition to Rivera, standout senior shooting guard Olivia Burden and speedy junior point guard Gabby Cajou will represent the Red Raiders.

Tappan Zee senior sharp-shooter Jillian Lynch will also make the trip from Rockland.